Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1887-07-08
From North Dakota.
CHuRcH's FERRY, June 25th.


l left Missouri the first week in
April and arrived here few days
after, and soon filed on tree and
pre-emption claims. Towner
county is situated in North Dako-
to, in what is known as the "Big
Coulee" country. We are about
thirty miles south of the British
possessions, between Devils Lake
and Turtle mountain. This coun-
try is rolling prairie of uniform
fertility. There is but little if
any waste land. The soil is from
sixteen inches to two feet in depth
with a hard clay subsoil. The eli
mate here is as healthy as in any
part of the United States. The
winters are long and cold, but dry.
There is no timber in this part of
Dakota, except on Turtle noun
tain, and the shores of Devils
lake. From these points wood is
hauled over the surrounding coun-
try for fifty miles or more. This
country is capable of producing
all the hardy vegetables, and
cereals, of the temperate zone, but
the principal crop is wheat. The
finest variety known to commerce,
the famous mo. l hard" is raised
here in the greatest abundance,
and for this product North Dako-
ia challenges the world to compe-
tition. Oats, barley and potatoes
do equally as we'll as wheat. Qrdi-
narily there is but little rainfall
! in this country, yet oD account of
the snow in the spring and the
hard clay subsoil retaining the
moisture, there is but little chance
of a crop failure from drouth. This
country originally belonged to the
Sioux Indians and there is a small
reservation of this tribe on the
south shore Of Devils lake and
a remnant of the Chippewa tribe
at Turtle mountain. There are
also a great many half breeds here.
They are the offspring of the old
French trappers, and fur traders.
They are lazy, inoffensive race,
if left alone ard spend much of
their time wandering over the
prairies, picking up bones and
with their carts and ponies haul
ing them to the railroad, where
they realize about six dollars per
ton for them.
This country was claimed as
Indian land till 1882 when Secre-
tary Teller decided it was govern
ment land and open to settlement
and large bodies were surveyed.
Notwithstanding this Commission
er Sparks. coming into Office or
dered the surveying stopped until
the alleged Indian title could be
investigated by Congress. But
the secretary of the Interior has
recently overuled Sparks order
and the surveys are to be put
through this summer. This will
open up for settlement some as
fine land fol agricultural purposes
rs there is in the northwest. North
Dakota has now larger bodies of
Government land suited for agri-
cultural purposes than any other
part of the United States. Here
are several million acres of fine
prairie land, which can be ac-
quired from the government by
complying with the national land
laws. These are three in number,
the homestead, premption and
timber culture laws. The two lat
ter will more than likely be re-
pealed the next session of Con-
gress. All that saved them the
last session was, the two houses
could not agree on the bill as it
was introduced. The Manitoba
rail road extends across this part
of the Territory from east to west.
The main line is now graded west
to the boundary line Of Montana
and the road will be completed to
Helena by next winter. This
country is new and the population
is very much mixed. There are a
great many Scandinavisns and
sons Canadians, English, Irish
and Dutch and not few Ameri-
cans. Among the latter class
there are many who have become
bankrupt in the States by dealing
in options and other classes Of
speculation and have come west to
rebuild their fortunes. This coun-
try in my opinion offers to young
men and others seeking home, as
fine opportunities as can be found
anywhere in the United States.
The Government donates a half
section of fine prairie land upon
conditions of your residing upon
and cultivating the same, and the
land is ready for the plow, no
clearing, no fencing, and water is
usually found by digging at a
depth of from 15 to 35 feet. If
there are any of your readers that
want to know more of this country
and its advantages to settlers if
they will write me | will answer
their inquiries. 1 would especial
ly advise any one contemplating
taking public land to do SO before